04/06/2025
🗞️ Equine Quarterly Disease Surveillance Report 2025 Q1 Focus Article 🗞️
💉 Strangvac is here - but are we using it?
Strangles, caused by Streptococcus equi, remains one of the most common and disruptive infectious diseases in UK horses. In 2022, a new vaccine, Strangvac, was launched, offering an intramuscular, subunit vaccine with DIVA (Differentiate Infected from Vaccinated Animals) capability.
Despite Strangvac’s promising profile, uptake among vets and clients appeared limited. A University of Cambridge student led survey was launched to explore UK veterinary surgeons’ experiences with strangles control, particularly vaccination practices, awareness of Strangvac, and barriers to its use.
Findings: UK vets reveal high awareness but low adoption of the new strangles vaccine, Strangvac. While 84% had heard of it, fewer than 1 in 5 recommend vaccination, and uptake remains below 10% in most practices.
🔍 Key barriers include low client demand, practices not stocking the vaccine, cost concerns, and uncertainty around efficacy.
📣 The takeaway? Vets are key to changing attitudes and play a central role in increasing uptake by discussing benefits with clients and ensuring vaccines are available.
Read it here: https://equinesurveillance.org/landing/resources/
Strangles Awareness Week